New Mexico adds boosters to COVID-19 vaccine mandates

Algernon D'Ammassa
Las Cruces Sun-News

Workers covered by existing COVID-19 vaccine mandates in New Mexico will be required to get booster shots as well, beginning in January. 

The state Department of Health on Thursday amended its public health order requiring workers at schools, hospitals and congregate care facilities and the governor's office to be vaccinated, adding the additional dose to existing requirements.

The new order states that those workers must document full vaccination plus booster by Jan. 17 or within four weeks of being eligible for the booster, which comes six months after completing a primary course of vaccine. 

The state currently defines "full vaccination" as beginning two weeks after receiving either the single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine, or two doses of vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech. 

More:New Mexico hospitals brace for more COVID-19 patients in December, urge residents to get vaccinated

Clint Hampton receives a vaccine at a clinic offering COVID-19 vaccinations at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021.

If primary and booster vaccinations are not documented with their employer, the workers must present a negative COVID-19 test weekly and wear a mask indoors at all times except when eating or drinking. 

The health order allows for medical or religious exemptions, but still requires weekly testing and masking requirements in those cases.

Workers at hospitals, congregate care facilities or the governor's office were required to complete primary vaccinations on Oct. 6.

The added booster requirement was announced the day the U.S. confirmed its second and third cases of the new omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 disease. 

Omicron COVID variant:COVID-19 Omicron variant hasn't been found in New Mexico yet, but it's being 'closely monitored'

The World Health Organization designated the strain, which has presented a high number of mutations, as a new "variant of concern" on Nov. 26. Little has been determined yet about the variant, which has already spread across the world, including whether it causes more serious disease or how resistant it might be to immunity from vaccines or previous infections. 

On Nov. 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "strengthened" its recommendation that all adults receive a boost to their COVID-19 vaccinations, six months after receiving Moderna or Pfizer's vaccines or two months after Johnson and Johnson. The booster doses were approved for adults last month by the Food and Drug Administration. 

New Mexico Secretary of Human Services Secertary Dr. David Scrase, who also serves as acting state Health Secretary, is seen at a news conference at the state Capitol in Santa Fe on Thursday August 27, 2020.

“The recent emergence of the Omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19," CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that day, citing preliminary data from South Africa suggesting the variant might be highly transmissible. 

Among New Mexico adults, 74.5 percent have completed their primary vaccinations and nearly 24 percent have received a booster, per health department data.

Among minors, 55.6 percent of children ages 12 through 17 have completed primary vaccinations as well as 1.5 percent of those ages 5 through 11. Boosters are not yet approved for minors. 

More:Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required to visit New Mexico state Capitol — unless you're a lawmaker

On Thursday, the state announced 2,054 new cases confirmed in a single day, 14 additional deaths from the disease, and a test positivity rate that has increased to more than 14 percent.

While 84 percent of the state's total of 318,135 cases have recovered, the disease has claimed 5,393 lives in New Mexico.

Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-541-5451, adammassa@lcsun-news.com or @AlgernonWrites on Twitter.